Creative Icelandic tapas with showy tasting menus, lively atmosphere, and strong service; pricey but memorable if you enjoy adventurous ingredients.
Tapas barinn delivers solid A-grade performance through exceptional food quality anchored by creative Icelandic tapas and strong service attentiveness, positioning it competitively with the area's better neighborhood restaurants. Consistency shows some variation—occasional pacing delays and uneven doneness on steaks prevent grade A territory—while the charming Old Harbour location and lively atmosphere create a welcoming destination without reaching iconic status.
Set near Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, Tapas barinn hums with cozy, lively energy and late-night service that rescues hungry travelers. Servers guide diners through Icelandic tasting journeys, with comments like "they paced everything perfectly and kept checking in." It can run loud at peak times, but most find the room warm and welcoming. The cooking leans modern Icelandic tapas with inventive sauces and textures rather than strict Spanish tradition. Expect lamb, scallops, arctic char, and more, framed by ponzu-gochujang, passionfruit foam, and truffle accents. Tasting menus offer the broadest experience and usually feel generous, though a few diners note occasional uneven pacing or doneness on steaks. Families should know the focus is adventurous: lamb, seafood, and specialty items dominate, with few simple comfort dishes. Portions on tasting menus can satisfy teens, but picky eaters may struggle; look instead to fries, beef cuts, or plain fish if available, and ask staff for kid-suitable picks.
Area vibe: Historic harbour-side area popular with travelers and locals, mixing galleries, bars, and tour operators.
Safety: Generally safe, well-lit, and busy in evenings with tourist foot traffic.
What's nearby: Near Old Harbour whale-watching piers, boutique shops, and downtown nightlife.
The tasting menu and seafood-laden plates like scallops and garlic lobster are the clearest crowd-pleasers.
It’s a date-night, casual-fancy spot with long tasting menus, loud late-night energy, and prices toward the high side.